[Intro: 2Pac]

When thugs cry

(When thugs cry, I hear you busters out there talking)

God, forgive us for our sins

(About you thugs living this thug life, thug this and thug that)

This go to my nigga Kato

(Motherfuckers die)

My nigga Mental

(Still wanna be a thug?)

When thugs cry

From all your homeboys

Wild ass place, know what I mean

(Wanna cry like thugs cry?)

The world ain't ready for us homie, the world ain't ready

[Verse 1: 2Pac]

Born thuggin', and lovin' the way I came up

Big money clutchin', bustin' while evadin' cocaine busts

My pulse rushin', semi clutchin' into insanity

They shot at my cousin, now we bustin' at their whole family

The coppers wanna see me buried, I ain't worried

I got a line on the D.A. ‘cause I'm fuckin' his secretary

I black out and start cussin', bust 'em and touch 'em all

They panic, and bitches duckin', I rush 'em and fuck 'em all

I'll probably be an old man before I understand

Why I have to live my life with pistols close in hand

Kidnapped my homie's sister, cut her face up bad

They even raped her, so we blazed their pad

Automatic shots rang out, on every block

They puttin' hits out on politicians, even cops

I ain't lyin', they got me sleepin' with my infrared beams

And in my dreams I hear motherfuckers screamin'

What is the meanin' when thugs cry?

[Chorus: 2Pac & Nanci Fletcher]

Battle scars and closed caskets are multiplied

Motherfuckers die, don't ask why

When thugs cry, we don't shed tears, we shed blood

Do you still wanna be a thug?

When thugs cry!

Battle scars and closed caskets are multiplied

Motherfuckers die, don't ask why

When thugs cry, we don't shed tears, we shed blood

Do you still wanna be a thug?

When thugs cry!

[Verse 2: 2Pac]

Maybe my addiction to friction got me buggin'

Where is the love?, never quit my ambition to thug

Ain't shed a tear since the old school years of elementary

Niggas I used to love, enclosed in Penitentiaries

But still, homie, keep it real, how does it feel

To lose your life, over something that you did as a kid?

You all alone, no communication, block on the phone

Don't get along with your pop, and plus your moms is gone

Where did we go wrong? I put my soul in the song

To help us grow in time, but now our minds are gone

We went from brothers and sisters to niggas and bitches (Biatch!)

We went from welfare livin' to worldwide riches

But somethin' changed in this dirty game, everything's strange

Lost all my homies over cocaine, mayne

See, they ask me if I shed a tear, I ain't lie

See, you gotta get high or die, ‘cause even thugs cry

[Chorus: 2Pac & Nanci Fletcher]

Battle scars and closed caskets are multiplied

Motherfuckers die, don't ask why

When thugs cry, we don't shed tears, we shed blood

Do you still wanna be a thug?

When thugs cry!

Battle scars and closed caskets are multiplied

Motherfuckers die, don't ask why

When thugs cry, we don't shed tears, we shed blood

Do you still wanna be a thug?

When thugs cry!

[Verse 3: 2Pac]

Paranoid bitches, illegal adventures

Bustin' motherfuckers with uppercuts, I leave 'em with dentures

In my criminal mind, nobody violates the Don

I write your name with a piece of paper, now your family's gone

Why perpetrate like you can handle my team?

So merciless in my attack I take command of your dreams

Leavin' motherfuckers drownin' in their own blood, clownin', takin' pictures later

Laugh 'bout them punk bitches that turned snitches

I regulate my area, the terror I represent

Make your people disappear, you wonderin' where they went

Am I cold, or is it just I sold my soul?

Addicted to these streets, never find true peace I'm told

Come take my body, God, don't let me suffer any longer!

Smoke a pound of marijuana, so I know it ain't long

Where is the end to all my misery, is there a close?

I suppose that's why I murder my foes; when thugs cry

[Outro: 2Pac]

I'm makin' all you motherfuckers die

When thugs cry

Gotta get high or die

When thugs cry

I'm makin' all you motherfuckers die

When thugs cry

Do you still wanna be a thug?

When thugs cry

This'll be the the eulogy for every thug nigga

That ever put it down in this motherfucker

Rest in piece my nigga

God bless the dead, fuck the feds

When thugs cry!

I send this out to all my dead homeboys

All the niggas that put it down

May they rest in peace now

All the niggas that watch me from heaven to hell

Hahaha

When thugs cry!

And most definitely, most importantly

Most truly, most dearest

I put this down for Mu grandmother

Rest in peace

God take you, let the angels let you fly

We'll be down here riding' for you, no doubt

I got that nigga

Do you still wanna be a thug?

When thugs cry

Ay Nas, member that shit you said?, I don't know what magazine, you said some shit about how it wasn't no

Nobody sayin' thugs 'till whoever, whoever, whatever

Nigga you better really go to the record store and go check out some of the albums we've been puttin' out, motherfucker we've been spittin' this thug shit for awhile now

And I know you been listening cause you've been biting this shit

So, uh recognize and realize

'Fore yo ass get rolled on

When thugs cry